Front page from this morning’s Fairfield Advance: Tea Time for Thang: “Canley Vale resident Thang Ngo is the toast of the town after being named an ambassador for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea…” full story below.

CANLEY Vale resident Thang Ngo is the toast of the town after being named an ambassador for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.

Mr Ngo, founder of the food blog Noodlies.com, has joined the ranks of food luminaries Adriano Zumbo, Matt Moran and Justine Schofield to raise awareness for the Cancer Council’s fundraiser event on May 26.

“I think it’s a reflection of our community in south-western Sydney that we’re getting more recognition,” Mr Ngo said.

“My philosophy is that there’s not enough attention paid to people in south-western Sydney, but it seems that the Cancer Council really wants to reach out to our diverse community.”

He said being a Cancer Council ambassador is particularly close to his heart, as his mother died from bowel cancer in 1990.

Mr Ngo said his mother did not act early enough to get her symptoms checked by a doctor.

“It’s ironic, because the health-care system is much better here than in Vietnam, and I feel it could have been prevented if she’d gotten checked out earlier,” he said.

“She had actually booked her ticket to go back and visit her family in Vietnam for the first time since we came here in 1975 and I feel cancer took that from her. I don’t want that to happen to any other family.”

Each year more than 36,000 people in NSW are diagnosed with cancer.

Mr Ngo said it was important for people to realise that cancer can affect anybody.

“My mother was always healthy and we thought she would outlive my father,” he said. “I think people don’t realise that just because you’re healthy and strong that cancer won’t ever happen.”

This year the Cancer Council is aiming to raise $11 million through Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to help fund cancer research, prevention, information and support services.

Mr Ngo said morning tea fundraising events can be held anytime throughout May.

“I encourage everyone in their own capacity to host a morning tea event with their family, friends or colleagues,” he said.

For fundraising tips or to donate, visit the website at biggestmorningtea.com.au.